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2011 Chevrolet Volt: What Do Owners Think, A Few Weeks In?

 
17,588 views Jan 6, 2011
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2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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Much of 2010 was spent learning more and more details about Chevrolet's exciting new range-extended electric car, the Volt. Towards the end of the year our colleagues at GreenCarReports finally got to drive the vehicle, and more recently the first owners have taken delivery.

So what do owners think? We've kept our eye on GM-Volt.com, the main ownership resource for Chevy Volt owners and enthusiasts. And even so soon after taking delivery, we're starting to see what owners think of their new cars.

First impressions

Initial impressions are encouraging. For a start, drivers seem to like their Volts! One could say this is obvious, as you wouldn't buy something you don't like, but even a few days of ownership can occasionally throw up issues that you never noticed on a brief test drive. We've all had cars with niggles that you can initially ignore but increasingly irk the longer you experience them.

The Volt isn't completely free of these niggles - GM-Volt user honoreitiscom has been comparing his new Volt to his previous car, a 2004 Toyota Prius. Though he prefers the Volt overall, he does criticize the fuel mileage, the Volt only getting 35 miles per gallon on longer trips compared to the 45 of his old Prius. The interior also comes in for some criticism, including a busy center stack with buttons that are a little too easy to bump, and a needlessly large and "clunky" gear selector.

Indeed, a number of the new Volt owners appear to have owned hybrid vehicles previously, all proving interesting and relevant comparisons.

Economy and range

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

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Unsurprisingly, the topic of range comes up often. honoreitiscom cites the 15-50 mile all-electric range as a major plus after the limited EV range of the Prius, and further on in his forum thread, user DanFowler says that he's used only 3.7 gallons in the 498 miles since picking up his Volt on December 21.

To save you the math, that's just under 135 miles per gallon - dramatically demonstrating the advantages of even a relatively short EV range. For comparison, his previous Prius and Civic Hybrid managed 47.5 and 44 mpg respectively. And the more local driving you do, the more impressive your relative economy becomes. Chevrolet came in for criticism of its "230 mpg City" claim, and rightly so - but it's certainly not beyond possibility that some owners will see figures like this, or possibly even greater.

Many owners are enjoying the benefits of the "Low" function on the gearshift, which maximises regenerative braking, almost allowing single-pedal driving. Most owners seem to be using this function almost exclusively, with occasional forays into Sport mode to enjoy the impressive performance on offer.

Center stack aside, remarks about the interior are generally positive. The stereo is apparently powerful and offers great sound, and the USB port and internal hard-drive are welcome features too.

The traffic warnings allow you to maximize your economy too, proving useful for directing you around heavy traffic, and even offering weather forecasts for your journey and local amenities. Chevrolet's OnStar connectivity is popular too, and is described on GM-Volt as "your own personal concierge".

First impressions for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt then are very impressive, even despite some little issues. Range certainly varies, but the more local journeys you do, the more savings you'll make, and you're sure to enjoy all the advanced features, making ownership a joy.

We'll leave the last word to forum user honoreitiscom again, who sums up his experiences nicely: "I'm so glad I traded up to this car!"

For more on the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, check out our Ultimate Reference Guide.

[GM-Volt.com]





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Comments (22)

  1. John Gibson Posted: 1/8/2011 11:19am PST

    Prius wins on the highway because the power splitter eliminates the gearbox and associated energy losses. As a hybrid it should remain on top until we go all electric.
     
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  2. Cliff Posted: 1/13/2011 11:24am PST

    HAHAHAHA. WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP. EVER HEARD OF BUYERS REMORSE. HOW CAN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BE SO EASILY MANIPULATED. AAAAND THEY GOT TOP CAR OF YEAR. WAIT WAAAAA!!!???? THERE ARE FULLY GAS CARS THAT GET BETTER MILEAGE. MY GOD WHAT A JOKES.
     
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  3. Anon Posted: 1/13/2011 11:33am PST

    There is some bad math here...
    "user DanFowler says that he's used only 3.7 gallons in the 498 miles since picking up his Volt...that's just under 135 miles per gallon...For comparison, his previous Prius and Civic Hybrid managed 47.5 and 44 mpg respectively."
    uh, did he ever plug it in to charge? His prius and civic hybrid probably didn't.
     
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  4. Guy Posted: 1/13/2011 11:40am PST

    @Cliff. There are no consumer cars that get better effective gas milegage. If you drive 25-50 (avg 35) miles a day you very rarerly have to use gas. So it is not quite like you make it out to be.
     
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  5. Nonchalant Savant Posted: 1/13/2011 4:07pm PST

    Nice to know CLIFF's staying busy after "Cheers" went off the air.
     
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  6. fb_61206378 avatar Antony Ingram Posted: 1/13/2011 4:35pm PST

    @ Anon - The driver almost certainly plugged in his Volt, since he would have been using the EV mode for a large proportion of his journeys. I can't see what effect this has on the fuel consumption though, which is exactly as you see it.
     
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  7. Friendly Phil Posted: 1/13/2011 5:10pm PST

    Hey CLIFF! Nice post. Dig the all caps vibe. Subtle.
     
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  8. shakira Posted: 1/13/2011 6:18pm PST

    I think the 'bad math' mentioned earlier was in relation to cost. While the Volt may only be using 3.7 gallons of fuel for 498 miles, there should still be some cost associated with plugging the vehicle to charge it up for the next 20-50 miles. Less gallons of fuel used for an electric/gas-less range should be obvious.
     
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  9. Agron Posted: 1/13/2011 9:55pm PST

    Please, to compare gas and electric expenses use DOLLARS not gallons. I know they both have varying prices but just take some kind of average. Also, please include the electricity delivery charge which in some states is as high as the electricity it self.
     
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  10. fb_500262096 avatar Tim Riel Posted: 1/14/2011 5:01am PST

    Cliff, You didn't read the article, did you...
     
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  11. DirtyElectroc Posted: 1/14/2011 6:18am PST

    So you are burning coal instead of gasoline. This should be outlawed. This is worst for the environment that any car ever built.
     
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  12. JR Posted: 1/14/2011 6:49am PST

    I'll stick with my Mustang GT and my 27 MPG highway, thanks.
     
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  13. Dan Posted: 1/14/2011 9:35am PST

    So, after all the buzz, it is just 35mpg on "long trips" for Volt? If that's true, Civic Hybrid and Prius are waaay better. Afterall 2011 Elantra adn 2012 Focus would give you 40mpg on hwy without any "hybrid" premiums to pay.
     
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  14. fb_1341732987 avatar Douglas Kerr Posted: 1/14/2011 9:45am PST

    Jeez. Where did all you people hating electric cars stumble upon this article? I have never seen a group of more myopic, ill-informed and just plain ignorant people. This is especially applicable to the DirtyElectroc (sic) individual who can't comprehend that when using even coal-based electricity we aren't buying gasoline from someone who literally wants to kill us. Or the post by Agron who apparently can't understand that the cost of electricity in even the highest market is less than one-third the cost of gasoline. People! Do some basic research before you display your stupidity for all to see.
     
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  15. Lou Posted: 1/14/2011 10:54am PST

    @DirtyElectroc
    So your assuming ALL electricity is from coal plants? Actually its only under half of the electricity produced in the US let alone in the world. Other countries such as Canada, where fossil fuels count for under 25% of the electricity produced, this car would be very clean indeed.
     
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  16. dullly Posted: 1/14/2011 11:01am PST

    My 2008 Toyota corolla gets better gas mileage on long trips and brand new, cost $26,000 less, is more reliable, and will cost much less to service and repair. How much does it cost to replace the batteries in this lemon? I am betting it is a few thousand dollars. Fail!
     
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  17. Tim Posted: 1/14/2011 12:38pm PST

    Am I the only one who remembers the Volt being billed for years as an all electric car? I could be wrong, but didn't they get all kinds of government money because of this? So now it comes out, and it's just another hybrid - and a bad one at that? Car of the Year, really???
     
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  18. fb_1390519818 avatar Jimmy Buck Posted: 1/14/2011 1:03pm PST

    @dully:
    If you take a lot of long trips, the Volt isn't for you. That doesn't mean it's a crappy car. I spend 99% of my driving time traveling the five miles from my home to my work. The Volt would be perfect for me. No car on the market is perfect for everybody.
     
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  19. Chris Taylor Posted: 1/14/2011 1:35pm PST

    This car is a farse. its a ripoff. its a scam and its a SLAP in the face of anyone who dreams of electric cars.
    anyone care to tally up what this thing costs? don't forget to include finance charges taxes and the increase in insurance costs while your at it. (full coverage being mandatory obviously for a new car)
    now compare this to the cost of used car? or the car you already own. OR hey lets compare it to a $14,000 ford fiesta that gets 40mpg. or a 36-40mpg nissan for $9550.
    please now. assuming 300,000 miles driven would someone care to do the math on a "cost per mile" basis ?
    yeah. neat huh. you save not ONE PENNY on a volt.
    its a SLAP IN THE FACE to anyone who remembers the 160mile ZERO GAS EVER range of the EV1 and the 80-110 mile ZERO GAS EVER range of the RAV4EV
    and the $4500 battery pack repalcement cost for that NIMH E95 battery and the 300,000 mile LIFESPAN minimum of that E95 $4500 battery pack.
     
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  20. Wilson Davalos Posted: 1/14/2011 7:26pm PST

    The plugging it in part really kills it for me and just about anyone living in a city. And that's where a car like this would make the most impact. I really hope that an alternative will come along soon.
     
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  21. Chupacabre Posted: 5/15/2011 7:10am PDT

    I metered my Chevy Volt. The energy cost per mile: 3 cents. Prius: 8 cents. The Chevy Volt is exactly what is claims to be, Car of the Year. Electric Cars will only become better and cheaper, just like LCD TVs.
     
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  22. Burke Posted: 5/20/2011 7:15am PDT

    Electric cars and plug in hybrids do not offer an alternative to fuel usage for they can only increase the demand for electricity, thus more charcoal and fuel burning. Bad propaganda made the Volt a deception that doesn't come close to the Prius in performance. The hydrogen cell (breaks down water and then recombines it to produce electricity) may be a real fuel alternative. But they say is a too expensive technology; but I don't really know why! Maybe the best should be investing strongly in clean diesel in US. I drove cars in Europe that consistently returned 60+mpg through city, highway, and mountain driving. Maybe they don't implement clean diesel here for the same reason crude oil is more expensive than high test gas at the pump...
     
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